- Some people swap out regular sweetened beverages for diet versions, but their long-term effects on health are unclear.
- A recent study found that diet and regular soft drinks increased salivary insulin levels.
- The results indicate the potential harm of too much consumption of diet and regular soft drinks. However, further research is needed in this area.
What people eat and drink affects many areas of life. Some people often try to reduce their intake of soda and other sugary beverages for health reasons.
Some also opt for drinking diet versions that use artificial sweeteners and have fewer calories. However, some of the effects of diet soft drinks are unclear.
A​ study now published in Food Research International compared how different beverages influenced salivary insulin levels.
The study found that both regular and diet soft drink intake resulted in higher salivary insulin levels. It also found that levels of the artificial sweetener aspartame in saliva were higher with the consumption of diet soft drinks.
This research further highlights some of the potential impacts of substituting regular soft drinks for diet. However, further research is required to understand the full effects and what this may mean for recommendations for artificial sweetener use.
T​his study was a single-blind study that included fifteen participants. Participants were healthy adults between 18 and 45 years, with no history of diabetes or abnormal blood sugar levels.
Researchers excluded certain participants based on factors that could influence saliva levels and taste perceptions. They wanted to look at how consuming certain beverages influenced four key elements:
- aspartame excretion in saliva — aspartame is a common artificial sweetener
- salivary insulin levels — insulin is a hormone that allows the body’s cells to use glucose for energy; problems with insulin levels and the body’s response to insulin can lead to diabetes
- total protein (TP)
- alpha-amylase (AMI) — this enzyme…
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